COLCHESTER United's under-18s were beaten 4-1 at home by Ipswich Town at Maldon and Tiptree's Park Drive ground, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Elliott Ward's side fell behind after five minutes when Jamie Mauge netted, after a number of shots had been blocked and goalkeeper Harrison Chamberlain had made a superb save.

But Colchester were level again two minutes later through Jamie Arnold, who cleverly chipped the ball over the keeper's head after a ball from midfield had sent him clear.

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Alex Kokoshi's deflected shot went wide before Kai Martin shot wide of the near post from the left, as the U's pressed.

Chamberlain denied Uzor Greey and saved from Mauge with his legs before Ipswich restored their lead just before half-time through Afi Adebayo's crisp low left-foot shot.

And Colchester fell further behind four minutes after the break when Revin Domi netted from the rebound, after Chamberlain had denied both him and Greey in quick succession.

Colchester substitute Samson Uwandu blazed his shot well over in space on the right and minutes later, burst into the box and went down under a challenge but no penalty was given.

 

Chamberlain made another good save to foil Greey and the Ipswich player shot just wide of the keeper's left hand post soon after, as Ipswich pressed for a fourth.

Colchester enjoyed a very good spell after that, with Rashaad Douglas's shot deflected away for a corner and the trialist’s shot held by Town keeper Alan Fleischer.

Kokoshi's effort went just wide of the far post, while Burak Sabah's great run saw him round Fleischer but the combined efforts of a defender and the keeper blocked his shot.

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Douglas who blazed well over the bar and poor distribution by Fleischer saw Kokoshi with the ball but he shot narrowly wide of the far post.

Kokoshi played in Sabah but Fleischer saved with his legs and Town rounded off victory in stoppage time through Mauge, who was found in space on the right and fired past Chamberlain.

Colchester U18: Harrison Chamberlain, Alamin Kosoko (sub Ronnie Harvey), Andrew Palmer-Brown, Donte Frank, Makaya James (sub Samson Uwandu), Trialist, Rashaad Douglas (sub Owen Moore), Kai Martin, Jamie Arnold (sub James Sasere), Burak Sabah, Alex Kokoshi. Sub (not used): Jack Sexton.